The aegis & intelligencer. [volume] (Bel Air, Md.) 1864-1923, 1887-05-06
The Egis & Intelligencer
Bel Air, Md, May 6, 1878.
HARTFORD COUNTY's REVOLUTION
AIRY RECORD
Mostly from Original Documents.
BY GEO. W. ARCHER.
VIII.

by GEO. W. ARCHER.
VIII.
There Is a gap OF nearly two months in these
records, during which time, according 10 those
published ten years ago, nine meetings Of the
The bloody battle of Bunker's Hill. fought
about the middle of june, l775, In which the
British army had assumed the aggressive, left
the Americans no Alternative but vigorous war.
Congress rising to the occasion, armies which
had already been marshalled were dispatched to
the scene of hostilities and new energy was in
fused into all branches of the military service.
In Maryland the new convention. on the sug-
gestion of the delegates representing the prov
ince in Congress, did not meet at once. II as
sembled, however, in the latter part OF July,
when its first step (i4l members being PRESENT.
was the adoption of that famous document.
The Association of the Freemen of Maryland, y
which was ordered to be everywhere crcula ed
fact, VIRTUALLY adopted as the constitution of
theprovince and remained such until supersed-
ed by better one In the following year;
The essence of the document-which is OF
considerable lengths embraced in the follow
ing extract: "This 1.-THE aggressive and uncom-
promising course of Great Britain has left us
no alternative but base submission, or manly OPP
position to uncomfortable tyranny. And we
do unite and associate as one band, and firmly
each other that we will, to the utmost of our
power, support and promote the present oppo-
AT the meeting of the Committee en- the 22d
Sep, 81 persons were appointed ITO carry the
Association framed and resolved upon by the
said county OF Hartford, and require their sub
scrption TO the same, aud to return the same 10
the Committee; and also to return the names OF
those who do not on application, or within ten
days after, sign the same, to the said committee
to be by them transmitted to the next Conven-
ton"
Later on purpose giving a synopsis Of the
names and remarks appended to some twenty
original copies written and printedl OF this IA
nous paper which were circulated for subscrip-
tion-Mr. L. w. Baker having kindly handed
them to me for that purpose .5p 49,. ,,o,..
one whose proceedings are among these papers.
The documents which here follow, however
given in the order OF their date-were no doubt
before the Committee at Its subsequent meet
ings-of which, as shown by the previously pub
lshed proceedings, eight were held during the
~ the very latest of all on the ith OF April of
the last named year, about which date the Com
mttee, as well as the Convention which created
II, was superseded by the new StateHoVernment
and ceased to exist.
1 next present two documents that are with
out date, though from internal evidence they
seem to have been drawn up some time during
the chaotic autumn of rs. The first, whose OBJ
ject Is tho formation of a company, was no doubt
composed by some ardent and faithful patriot,
who, while doing his very best, would certainly
have done much better could he nave hai 1T
wanting in those days, to wit, grammar and
''rO THE PUBLIC. You are advised and in
vited by all the ties of friendship to assemble on
such day as shall be hereafter appointed, in
order to learn the military exercise and be dis
clpined in case of approaching danger, which
now appears to be growing on apace, whilst we
see 1t not and 1t is generally the case when we
see 1t not, we fear it not. But let this at the
present critical juncture awaken us from our
iethargy, that by the alarms we have had we
may be melted to activity and exert ourselves in
our country's cause; and whereas the smiles OF
Providence on the American cause heretofore
cannot but animate every ingenious mind to
push forward the most vigorous measures TO
defeat the proud, abandoned tools of tyranny
and all their hellIsh contriyances; and he who
manifests any backwardness in the present glo-
rious struggle for preserving the liberties OF
America betrays the basest ingratitude to Al
mighty God, themselves, and their offspring
hereafter. Therefore, up and be doing! Rouse
up your spirits, and say within yourselves, we
will not have these to rule over us; we will be
as one man, and our unanimity Will be our enc
mics destruction. Therefore we recommend 1t
to be our Indispensable duty to form ourselves
into an independent company under such rules
and restraints as shall be necessary for the reg
ularity Of said company And whereas liberty
selves, we dlsdain the sinister views OF those
that do 1t for lucre; and do hereby engage to be
subject to such laws as shall hereafter be agreed
on by the company or majority of them when
completed; and II our Province IS invaded, to
march directly to its defence, and there to put
ourselves under the command of the officers of
q battalion, and there TO exert our utmost skill
in the defence of our country. Now those that
assign their names to this paper shall be account
ed worthy to partake OF the honors of liberty
and those that refuse ought not to be so esteem
Judging from the names there are seventeen
appended to the above paper II probably ema-
mated from what is now Dublin district. The
other paper, with nearly the same signatures. Is
bilious style of rhetoric.-partly, no doubt
because the theme was not so inspiring; but the
scholarship displayed is OF much the same order
and as to its logic-which after all is the main
thing 10 such emergences-itis irresistible; that
s, OF course, II the facts on which 1t s based are
correctly stated. 1t would seem that fraudulent
voting and unfair representation had to be sup
pressed during the very birth Of the Republic.
40 ne Honorable Committee Of Hartford County IN
Hartford Tom assembled: Humbly sheweth that
we your petitioners humbly beg the privilege OF
laying before your honorable assembly our many
grievances which we lie under in many respects
concerning joining company without having
the privilege therein belonging to freemen,
few of which are as follows, viz:
list. Our officers were voted in by persons
which we understood never did belong TO oui
company: r ot,,ors ,ro now a,toUetbor nar,,v in
one corner Of this Hundred, and this may have
a tendency of carrying matters in such form
as to study therown advantage in our common
affairs to the disadvantage OF us who live at q
distance from them; whereas wo your humble
petitioners desire the privilege of having new
election OF officers, and that justly by the vote
OF the majority of those very persons who be-
long TO aud constantly attend upon our compa-
ny in all their various proceedings. Or If IL
would not be thought expedient 10 grant new
election, we would beg to be granted the liberty
to join In company df we can make II up) by
ourselves, and notwithstanding TO remain undo
the protection and government OF our superors
as other companies. This We desire to lay be-
fore and leave to the wise consideration OF the
For which your humble petitioners are ever in
duty bound to pray"
The following is from prominent patriot who
represented Hartford in at least six provincial
Conventions, and in several state Assemblies.
40 the Committee Of Hartford county. Gentlemen
send enclosed the enrolment of the company
of militia in the upper part of spesutia Uppel
Hundred, which understand Will be objected
to. II so, aud the committee should be OF opin
ion that the objection carries any reason, please
to defer any further proceeding on that head
until am In a condition to attend the Commit
tee. have been in a bad state of health fol
some weeks, or should have attended with II
some time past. am, Gentlemen; yours, sc.
"SeJ. 30, IT'S. JNO. LOVE"
The enrolment of the militia had had beer
going on ever since the preceding January.
The next is from the father of one of our mos
honored naval heroes of the war of 1872. Hi
chirography is excellent.
ITO Amos Garrett, Esq. Sir: desire you vii
be so kind as to deliver the enclosed to the Com
mittee. as am obliged to be on particular bus
mess elsewhere, and fear can't be in time t.
wait on them; and If that affair should come vi
to be heard, l hope, as you have been my nrn
friend, SO you will be in this, and see me and M
company justiied-which will lay me under thu
greatest obligation. / am, good sir,
Your most obd't and very humble serv't.
SusQuehdnnd FeTT-s 3OM Sep. 1915.
JOHN RODGERS.